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Harper's Moto Guzzi Tune Up Hello friends and clientele of Harper’s Moto Guzzi, below is an update from Owner, Curtis Harper. Well, it certainly has been a long time since I have been able to get anything sent out about the status of Harper’s Moto Guzzi. I’m happy to say that even with as many challenges as we have had the last year or so, we are still here every day answering the phone to assist you. As we have made it thru, we have also made new commitments to improve our services. The first thing that I am really excited about is that I have finally found someone I am comfortable with to help us get up to speed with the website and making your experience mush easier and more enjoyable. Earlier this year, our site crashed due to a massive change in our hosting company. I initially thought we had been hacked, however it was the evolution of technology that was the culprit. We got things bandaged back up and have been limping along in search of someone who may understand what we need, and most importantly what helps you enjoy your motorcycle in whatever way you need. Our first goal with the new site and the new folks helping us out starts with improved communication. Based on the fact that our internal operating system was written before Al Gore ever invented the internet, we have not had a way to keep up with all the notifications on tracking and backorders and such the way we should. And yes, finally we are going to join the rest of the world in being able to do that. Also, on hand quantities are going to be active. This may take a while to reconcile every number, location, and stock levels but it is a priority. And of course, being just as serviceable on computer, tablet, or phone. Another thing that I wish to address is component quality. I know that there are less expensive choices on a lot of parts. There is quite often a good reason for that. I strive to only offer top line parts. Chinese or third world country parts are most often just not worth the risk. Things like bearings, brakes, shocks, and other parts likes this are just not something we will be offering. At times, there may not be an option on certain items, and even at that, if I am not comfortable with it, Harper’s will not sell it. We have never been the discount capital of the Guzzi world, and we won’t become it now. We will continue to provide the best options for reasonable prices. We will also be keeping up better with emails updates and specials. As we have been doing inventory to try to make the numbers right for the new site, we have been coming across a lot of hard to find or obsolete parts and will be notifying existing customers of these parts first thru these emails. So, make sure you stay on the list. And just as you would change dealers if you didn't like the way your motorcycle was being serviced, we are changing hosting companies this weekend, so you may experience slight changes and updates to what you see on the site as we achieve a better online adventure for you! We look forward to a very bright 2022 Curtis Harper Starting off your Christmas season right for your Guzzi enthusiast, we have located a nice quality baseball cap in RED or GREY for just $14.95 Also don't forget to browse our t-shirts and other moto Guzzi personal accessories in our ACCESSORY DEPARTMENT

I wasn't planning on posting anywhere else. I bought my Tenni new from Harpers in '03. A great shop! I try to get what I need from them but it hasn't always been "easy", at least by my definition. I'm glad to see the restructure.

The biggest misunderstanding with oil is the lower viscosity grade. Mention you run your engine on a 0W-40 and people tell you it's too "thin". They think this because they don't understand engine oil viscosity. Here's a simple explanation with regards to viscosity for a FULL SYNTHETIC oil. A 0W-40 oil has higher viscosity at room temperature than it does at engine running temperature. End of story. So the engine is designed to do it's work at around 100 deg C a temp where a 0W-40 oil is less viscous, or thinner than it is at a room temperature. So how can the W weight possibly be too thin? The confusion is because MINERAL based multigrade oils "shear down" over time so they traditionally ran a higher W number (like 20 weight, 20W-50 for example) so if you didn't change the oil and let it shear down all it's "Viscosity improvers" you still had a baseline viscosity that would provide some half decent engine lubrication. You had a floor viscosity level. Modern full synthetic oils simply don't shear down like that so you can use a W viscosity that's very low (remember still more viscous than it is at running temp) to provide much better cold start and cold temp protection and performance because you don't need the "safety net". You can actually use an oil closer to what the engine needs at start up and still have the hot end needs met as well. Ciao

Dad flew with Valvoline in a single engine aircraft. That was long ago, but they have recently introduced a synthetic, flat tappet engineered oil in collaboration with Cummins, called Extreme Blue. The V11 is running on it and I note no consumption problems, even though I ride at 4500 RPM or so. Zinc is good - well above the 1000 ppm threshold.

@docc, @Lucky Phil Out of all the brands I wrote to, Liqui Moly is the only one that provided feed-back:

The look from the rear annoyed me with the driveshaft side pipe sitting out further than the left hand side once the TI exhausts were fitted. Whipped up a spacer last night. happy with the look now. Now if only the rain would stop.

I agree, I've been stung in the past ordering a big bulky "in stock" item and filling the box up with little items I didn't need to help with the high International shipping costs, and ended up without the item I really wanted. When Curtis recently canvassed for information to improve their site & business, I mentioned that carrying the good black wire reinforced valve cover gaskets (Valopini sp?) would be nice. fwiw

Hey FG, tks for posting that. Are you going to do likewise on WG? I'm glad to see Harpers taking the right steps to move their business forward. When I was completely clueless, and a newbie guzzi owner, I luckily placed my first phone call to Harpers. Curtis patiently and kindly took the time to walk me through the basic essentials of what I should be doing, to take the best care of my 30 yr old, new to me guzzi. I'll be forever in Curis's debt. I'll have to search out and get on that email list, I've seen some of the special parts and deals he's come across in the past. tks very much.

Any port in a storm: Synthetic Harley oil. The world will always have that. Air-cooled, flat tappets and rockers. Separate transmission. The same lubrication needs. Harley's maybe even more critical than Guzzi, as they have that hot rear cylinder to keep cool.

@footgoose In my former job, you could never do anything without first having a design package that met approved standards, and said package reviewed by third party authorities; once the equipment would be built and certified according to that approved design, you would still need to get an approval to use it in a specific application. e.g. verified operating envelope. Therefore, oils that met the API and JASO standards have most likely been tested before getting the seal. By the way, API has developed a seal that will be printed on oil meeting their latest standard. I feel that we are hammering this oil topic into oblivion, since I believe most of the modern oils follow very precise guidelines and recipe. Generally speaking, each oil brand is telling us their oil is perfect for our engine, and we probably feel that we are using the best oil for our engine too. Personally, I am going to give points to Liqui Moly for two reasons: Number 1; they replied to my query. So far, they are the only ones that did. Not that it proves anything, but at least, we are now better educated. Or at least, I think I am. It makes sense to me, that ZDDP is no longer the sole magic molecule. Number 2; Liqui Moly is involved in current MotoGP racing. So they have people actively working on perfecting their products. I am not saying that other brands do not. But we can agree that motorcycle racing and automobile racing have different requirements. I want to wait longer, to see if I get replies from other oil manufacturers. I believe the frantic years we went through have disrupted customer service for a lot of companies, and most likely will continue for the near future. In the meantime, my workshop of choice rolls with Liqui Moly, and they have it available for purchase. While I could also acquire the SAE 5W-40 on line, I want MGS Cycle to benefit from my patronage.

Yes......... that now look's proper. Ciao

I had Racetech Springs & valves fitted a few years ago From invoice springs fitted were 260Lx25.5IDx35.3OD 1.0Kg/mm I'm 100 kg plus 10kg of gear. I've just replaced fork oil and found I needed to build a fork compression tool to be able to completely drain the forks I copied one from Racetech's website

Frankly, this is a very familiar and fantastically sexy formula . . . Missing = 1) Exclusivity , and 2) Tanya Dexters (Instead, a concrete pillar)